NCARB’s Licensure Process Research & Development (R&D) Task Force is one of many NCARB volunteer committees made up of practicing architects, public members, and executives from U.S. licensing boards. Over the past several years, the Licensure Process R&D Task Force has worked to reimagine the future of licensure and is continuing to steer NCARB’s Pathways to Practice initiative. The larger Pathways initiative is now engaging with an even broader group of volunteers, including collateral representatives and licensure candidates, as development work is being led by NCARB’s Education, Experience, and Examination committees.
Developed in 2022, the NCARB Competency Standard for Architects establishes 16 knowledge areas, skills, abilities, and behaviors—called competencies—that describe the capabilities necessary at the point of initial licensure for an individual to protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare.
The Licensure Process R&D Task Force and program committees will use the competencies defined in the Competency Standard to envision new pathways to become an architect, as well as the criteria and methods that could be used to assess each competency.
“Ultimately, we’re testing that the competencies are validated, but that [the licensure pathways] provide great flexibility for the candidate to be able to choose the best path for them.” – Greg L. Wynn, AIA, NCARB | FY26 Chair, Licensure Process R&D Task Force
Watch to understand how Licensure Process R&D Task Force members are exploring opportunities to offer multiple Pathways to Practice—without sacrificing the rigor needed to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public.